Manchester City completed a dominant FA Cup final win over Brighton to secure a first domestic double, with captain Alex Greenwood insisting the performance matched that of champions on a landmark afternoon at Wembley.
Greenwood, Khadija Shaw, Aoba Fujino and Vivianne Miedema all scored as Manchester City recovered from a slow opening spell to take control and lift the trophy, adding the 2025-26 FA Cup to their Women's Super League crown.
Manchester City joined an exclusive list of English women's teams to claim the league and FA Cup in the same campaign. Arsenal managed the feat in 2011, while Chelsea achieved doubles in 2015, 2017-18, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2024-25.
Greenwood also produced a notable personal moment, bending a precise free
kick into the bottom-right corner late in the first half. That strike made Greenwood the first player to score directly from a free kick in an FA Cup final since Kelly Smith did so for Arsenal against Everton in 2014.
Brighton unsettled Manchester City early, pressing aggressively and limiting clear chances, before Greenwood's set-piece changed the mood at Wembley. After the break, Shaw added a second, Fujino extended the lead, and Miedema completed the scoring as Manchester City closed out the contest with authority.
Greenwood supplied the cross for Shaw's goal, then Shaw turned creator for Fujino's strike. That combination meant Greenwood and Shaw became the first pair of team-mates this century to both score and assist in a Women's FA Cup final, underlining Manchester City's attacking variety.
Alex Greenwood is your #AdobeWomensFACup Player of the Match for the 2025-26 Final! pic.twitter.com/mqDBb1zWBvAdobe Women's FA Cup (@AdobeWFACup) May 31, 2026
Speaking to TNT Sports, Greenwood reflected on Manchester City's title celebrations and the need to respond with focus at Wembley. "What a season, what a way to end the season. We had a period between winning the league and nowwe enjoyed ourselves and enjoyed being winners," Greenwood said.
Greenwood stressed the importance of following that enjoyment with another complete display. "But today was about doing what champions do, and that's to come and win again and again, and this is a fantastic team to be a part of. "
FA Cup final Manchester City Brighton tactical view and mentality
Manchester City did not hit top rhythm immediately, something Greenwood openly acknowledged. "I don't think we actually played very well in the first half to be honest, I think we started the game a little bit slowly. The difference is we can not concede a goal, and we know how to change the momentum of the game. "
Greenwood highlighted the depth of quality and trust within the squad. "We believe in each other, the tactics, and we have incredible individuals who can take the game by the scruff of the neck. " That belief underpinned a measured second-half display, with Manchester City managing the game once the lead was established.
Asked about the free kick, Greenwood explained the work behind that moment. "I practise it all the time, and I hadn't scored a single goal all season, which has been quite annoying," Greenwood added when asked about her goal. "When she gave the free kick, I just thought, 'you've practised all season, so do something about it', and thank God it went in the back of the net. "
FA Cup final Manchester City Brighton Brighton perspective and season review
For Brighton, defeat ended what had been a promising campaign, with the team finishing seventh in the Women's Super League. The club reached Wembley and competed with Manchester City for long periods, but could not match the champions' clinical edge in key attacking situations.
Head coach Dario Vidosic carried personal emotion into the FA Cup final after the death of father and staff member Rado in January. Before kick-off, Brighton supporters displayed a tifo depicting the pair together, an image that drew a heartfelt response from Vidosic after the match.
"It was a beautiful thing to say. Thank you to the club and the fans," Vidosic said of that moment. "Each day is different. Some days are a little bit easier. Some days can be tough when I look back and know that dad would have been here with us as well. He would have loved to have been a part of today, but I'm sure he was in a way. In the end, he would have been proud, irrespective of the result. "
Manchester City's win secured a historic double, showcased Greenwood's leadership and set-piece skill, and underlined the influence of players like Shaw, Fujino and Miedema, while Brighton left Wembley with credit for a committed display and a season shaped by both progress and personal loss.
